Friday, October 31, 2008

The Song Remains the Same, Sick Again, Nobody's Fault But Mine, Over the Hills and Far Away, Since I've Been Loving You, No Quarter, Ten Years Gone, The Battle of Evermore, Going to California, Black Country Woman, Bron-Y-Aur Stomp, White Summer/Black Mountain Side, Kashmir, Over the Top, Heartbreaker, Achilles Last Stand, Stairway to Heaven, Rock and Roll

The first show of the band's six night stand at The Forum begins with a brief soundcheck as the crowd's excitement builds to a frenzied peak. Following a shaky performance two nights earlier, Bonzo is back with a vengeance, thrashing at his drums in a frantic explosion of energy as The Song Remains the Same crashes into motion. The intense sonic assault doesn't let up as the band launches into a ferocious Sick Again. Page's guitar cuts out briefly during the intro, causing a moment of confused hesitation at the beginning of the first verse. He shreds wildly through the guitar solos as Bonzo continues to pummel the crowd with his thunderous attack. A brutal performance, one of the best thus far. Nobody's Fault But Mine is devastatingly heavy. Plant exclaims "oh Jimmy, excuse me!" as Page begins a blistering guitar solo. As the song ends, Plant tells the crowd "it is indeed a great pleasure to be back in California... it's very hard to see the sun in a basement in New York."

Page blazes through an excellent guitar solo during Over the Hills and Far Away. Since I've Been Loving You is an intense emotional drama. Plant is in top form, belting out each line with power and conviction. As the song ends, he announces "we'd like to welcome back to the world John Bonham, who had a terrible fit of food poisoning," joking "he ate far too many rhinestones." No Quarter is an epic journey. A series of haunting theramin howls introduce Jones's ominous piano solo, which includes hints of Your Time is Gonna Come. Page and Bonzo join in for an outstanding blues improvisation. The band is absolutely on fire during the fantastic guitar solo section, slowly building tension until everything erupts in an explosive climax, crashing down on the crowd in thunderous waves. Page shreds wildly during the song's violent outro. An utterly devastating performance, one of the best ever.

Page blazes through the guitar solos during an excellent Ten Years Gone. Someone near the taper can be heard shouting "bring on Neil Young!" as the band prepares for the acoustic set. Going to California is beautiful. Plant hints at Gallows Pole before Black Country Woman. Page's fingers dance across the fretboard during White Summer/Black Mountain Side. Kashmir is incredibly powerful. Jones's droning keyboard symphony washes over the crowd as the band defiantly marches into battle. A crushing performance. There is a long pause before Over the Top, during which Plant pokes fun at Bonzo as he tries to fix a problem with his drum kit. The crowd goes wild as Page begins Heartbreaker. His fingers tear across the fretboard in a furious cascade of notes during the blistering guitar solo.

Shouts of "hey asshole, play some music!" and "we've had the guitar lessons!" can be heard coming from the crowd during a particularly lengthy experimental guitar solo. The band hammers through a violently aggressive Achilles Last Stand at a frantic pace. Plant tells the crowd "it's sort of a high point of the whole tour to be back here" before Stairway to Heaven. Bonzo thrashes wildly at anything within reach as Page shreds through an explosive guitar solo. Plant pushes his voice to the limit during the final verse. Whole Lotta Love is preceded by a heavy a cappella intro from Page with hints of Communication Breakdown thrown in. The band closes the show with a riotous Rock and Roll. As the song ends, Plant announces "it's like a good woman, goodnight!" An unbelievable performance, one of the best ever. Must hear.

The legendary Listen to This Eddie tape is yet another phenomenal Mike Millard recording, briefly augmented by an inferior audience source during Ten Years Gone.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

The Song Remains the Same, Sick Again, Nobody's Fault But Mine, In My Time of Dying, Since I've Been Loving You, No Quarter, Ten Years Gone, The Battle of Evermore, Going to California, Mystery Train, Black Country Woman, Bron-Y-Aur Stomp, White Summer/Black Mountain Side, Kashmir, Achilles Last Stand, Stairway to Heaven, Rock and Roll

The show gets off to an uneven start with a sluggish The Song Remains the Same. Bonzo struggles to keep the beat as Page tries in vain to speed things up. By the beginning of Sick Again, it's obvious Bonzo's having an off night. Completely missing his cues during the intro, he crawls through the rest of the song at a snail's pace. As the song ends, Plant tells the crowd "we're not gonna do too much spieling, cause I heard the live album, so we'll just play a lotta music instead." Bonzo continues to struggle during Nobody's Fault But Mine. Page shreds through a sticky-fingered guitar solo. Plant exclaims "oh my Audrey!" near the end of In My Time of Dying. As the song ends, he mentions that Jones is having trouble with his back, joking "it's about time that somebody noted it down in the press that John Paul Jones doesn't just play backgammon."

Page is on fire during Since I've Been Loving You, which features mournful organ accompaniment from Jones. Unfortunately, Bonzo's erratic drumming frequently disrupts the somber mood, preventing the piece from ever really coming together. Jones's piano solo develops into an excellent hard rock jam as Page and Bonzo join in during No Quarter. Page's guitar solo gets off to an excellent start, but is quickly derailed by Bonzo's disjointed overplaying. Plant introduces the acoustic set as "our version of a sort of a Californian Crosby, Stills, Nash and Bonham" before The Battle of Evermore. He forgets some lyrics during an otherwise beautiful Going to California.

Page and Plant get into a fantastic impromptu rendition of Mystery Train before Black Country Woman. Bonzo is absent for the remainder of the acoustic set. Page plays a bit of Dancing Days during Bron-Y-Aur Stomp. Plant is in top form during Kashmir, belting out each line with power and bravado. Bonzo is constantly on the brink of falling apart while still managing to deliver some very lively passages at times. The crowd erupts as the band launches into Achilles Last Stand. Page blazes through an outstanding guitar solo during Stairway to Heaven. As the band leaves the stage, Plant tells the crowd "it's good to be back San Diego, it really is good to be back, goodnight."

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

The Song Remains the Same, Sick Again, Nobody's Fault But Mine, Over the Hills and Far Away, Since I've Been Loving You, No Quarter, Ten Years Gone, The Battle of Evermore, Going to California, Black Country Woman, Bron-Y-Aur Stomp, White Summer/Black Mountain Side, Kashmir, Over the Top

The sixth night at The Garden and the band's final New York performance in its original form begins with a fiercely energetic The Song Remains the Same. Plant's aggressive snarl dominates a ferocious Sick Again. As the song ends, he apologizes for the delay, saying "there was a real reason for it, I'd got no clothes to wear," which is met with shouts of "bullshit!" from the crowd. Page's fingers are like razor blades as he slashes and shreds through an erratic guitar solo during Nobody's Fault But Mine. Plant again tries to sing the chorus of Over the Hills and Far Away in its original melody, but falls short. Page is all over the place during the guitar solo. Plant introduces Since I've Been Loving You as "a song about the doubts of love," adding "and if there's anybody wandering around this auditorium tonight who's in doubt... don't be." Page has reverted to the sharp, angular soloing style characteristic of the 1975 North American tour.

Jones is introduced as "one of the greatest yachtsmen on Central Park" before No Quarter. Page and Jones get into a spirited interplay prior to an epic guitar solo section. There is a cut in the tape during the final verse. Page nearly destroys the guitar solos during Ten Years Gone. Plant hints at Gallows Pole before The Battle of Evermore. Going to California is introduced as "a song about the desire to find what you want and sometimes almost giving up." Page hints at Pinball Wizard at the beginning of Black Country Woman, which is dedicated to Ral Donner. Plant delivers a powerful performance during Kashmir. Unfortunately, the recording ends just over three minutes into Over the Top.

The tape is fairly clear, if a bit distant and noisy. Unfortunately, it runs slightly fast.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

The Song Remains the Same, Sick Again, Nobody's Fault But Mine, Over the Hills and Far Away, Since I've Been Loving You, No Quarter, Ten Years Gone, The Battle of Evermore, Going to California, Black Country Woman, Bron-Y-Aur Stomp, White Summer/Black Mountain Side, Kashmir, Over the Top, Heartbreaker, Achilles Last Stand, Stairway to Heaven, Black Dog

The band's fifth night at Madison Square Garden begins with a barrage of firecracker blasts before The Song Remains the Same explodes out of the gate. Bonzo's thunderous pounding sounds like a violent earthquake as the band hammers through a brutally heavy Sick Again. Nobody's Fault But Mine is interrupted by a series of minor tape disturbances throughout. Over the Hills and Far Away is introduced as "one that we're attempting for the second time for the benefit of a man who usually sits in the second row... a Ritchie Blackmore look-alike, wherever he's gone." Plant attempts to sing the chorus in its original melody, but doesn't quite make it. Page shreds through a wildly dissonant guitar solo.

Plant introduces Since I've Been Loving You as "a central London blues." Page's fingers tear across the fretboard in a furious cascade of notes during the guitar solo. Jones's somber piano solo gives way to an excellent upbeat boogie as Page and Bonzo join in during No Quarter. The instrumental section reaches its peak with an outstanding guitar solo from Page, his masterful fingerwork leading the way as the band embarks on an epic musical journey. Jones hints at Chim Chim Cher-ee as the piece comes to a close. A fantastic performance. Ten Years Gone is simply amazing. Page blazes through the guitar solos with amazing fluency and precision. An incredibly powerful performance, one of the best thus far. Bonzo is introduced as "a rhinestone cowgirl" as he comes to the front of the stage before an excellent The Battle of Evermore. The crowd erupts in a thunderous stampede as a beautiful Going to California comes to a close.

Plant hints at The Lemon Song before dedicating Black Country Woman to The Jive Five. There is a slight cut in the tape near the beginning of Bron-Y-Aur Stomp. White Summer/Black Mountain Side is preceded by a long pause due to Page dropping his guitar and knocking it out of tune. Plant pushes his voice to the limit during a riotous Heartbreaker. Unfortunately, there is a cut in the middle of Page's blistering guitar solos. Achilles Last Stand is a thunderous explosion. Bonzo thrashes frantically at anything within reach as Page shreds erratically. An utterly devastating performance. Bonzo enters early during Stairway to Heaven, forcing Plant to skip a verse to catch up. The band closes the show with a crushing rendition of Black Dog, its first appearance since 5/25/1975. An unbelievably brutal performance, definitely the heaviest of the New York run. Must hear.

Monday, October 27, 2008

The Song Remains the Same, Sick Again, Nobody's Fault But Mine, In My Time of Dying, Since I've Been Loving You, No Quarter*, Ten Years Gone*, The Battle of Evermore*, Going to California, Black Country Woman, Bron-Y-Aur Stomp, White Summer/Black Mountain Side, Kashmir, Over the Top, Achilles Last Stand, Stairway to Heaven, Heartbreaker

*- soundboard: (master cassette>dat)

The tape begins with a brief soundcheck before the band launches into The Song Remains the Same. Plant's voice starts off a bit rough, taking a few songs to really warm up. Page's fingers are a bit sticky during the guitar solos in Sick Again. As the song ends, someone near the taper can be heard saying "my ears are hurtin'." After greeting the crowd, Plant apologizes for the delay, joking "welcome to the midnight movie." In My Time of Dying features the usual You Shook Me tease toward the end of the song. Page's soloing is elegantly restrained during a somber Since I've Been Loving You.

No Quarter is simply amazing. Jones's elaborate piano solo makes way for a fantastically epic instrumental section. The band moves as one as they expertly traverse the vast musical terrain, lead by the urgent cadences of Page's volatile guitar solo. An outstanding performance. Ten Years Gone is introduced as "a song about a love that could have been good, but went by the wayside." Page's fingers are a bit sticky during the guitar solos. Going to California in absolutely beautiful, one of the best thus far. Unfortunately, the song is periodically disrupted by two people talking loudly near the taper. Plant skips some lyrics during Black Country Woman, ruining the end of the song. Page's fingers dance across the fretboard during an excellent White Summer/Black Mountain Side.

There is a slight cut in the tape during a source change near the end of Kashmir. Over the Top is incomplete as well. The crowd erupts as Achilles Last Stand explodes into motion. The band hammers through the song at a frantic pace. The walls of the arena quake under the power of Bonzo's thunderous pounding. Page shreds wildly through the guitar solo during Stairway to Heaven. Plant pushes his voice to the limit during the initial verses of Heartbreaker. Unfortunately, the recording ends during Page's a cappella solo.

The first source is fairly clear, if a bit noisy in the high end. The second source is distant, muffled, and boomy. The soundboard tape is excellent, if a bit hissy.

Friday, October 24, 2008

The Song Remains the Same, Sick Again, Nobody's Fault But Mine, Over the Hills and Far Away, Since I've Been Loving You, No Quarter, Ten Years Gone, The Battle of Evermore, Going to California, Black Country Woman, Bron-Y-Aur Stomp, White Summer/Black Mountain Side, Kashmir, Over the Top, Heartbreaker, Achilles Last Stand, Stairway to Heaven, Rock and Roll

The tape begins with a barrage of firecracker blasts as the band takes the stage. The Song Remains the Same is a riotous explosion of energy. A loud air horn siren signals the beginning of an incredibly heavy Sick Again. The walls of the arena quake under the power of Bonzo's thunderous pounding as Page shreds wildly through the guitar solos. As the song ends, Plant greets the crowd, extending "a special good evening to our friends from Wales." Page blazes through an excellent guitar solo during Nobody's Fault But Mine. Plant introduces "a song that might come as a surprise for the people in the second row who've been here a couple of nights" before the first appearance of Over the Hills and Far Away since 5/25/1975.

There is a slight cut in the tape during Jones's piano solo in No Quarter, just before Page and Bonzo join in for an upbeat rock 'n roll jam. Page delivers a fantastic guitar solo during the epic instrumental section. Plant jokingly refers to Jones as "the young lady in the group" before The Battle of Evermore. Going to California is introduced as "a song about what happens when you get over the misty mountain." Unfortunately, the delicate atmosphere is interrupted by the restless rumblings of a rowdy crowd. The beginning of Black Country Woman is missing from the tape. Page hints at Dancing Days briefly during Bron-Y-Aur Stomp. Plant barks aggressively during a thunderous Kashmir. Bonzo is introduced as "a man who'd spit in your eye before he'd say hello" before Over the Top.

The biggest surprise of the night is the first appearance of Heartbreaker since 5/25/1975. Page shreds erratically as Bonzo hammers at his drums with incredible intensity during the guitar solo section. The experimental guitar solo before Achilles Last Stand continues to expand in both length and complexity with Page creating vast sonic landscapes of electronic noise. Achilles Last Stand is a frantic cacophony, Page is out of tune for most of the song. The crowd erupts as Stairway to Heaven begins. Plant tells the crowd "tonight's about good vibes" as the band returns to the stage. The explosive introduction of Rock and Roll threatens to destroy the taper's equipment. Unfortunately, the recording ends during Page's guitar solo.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

The Song Remains the Same, Sick Again, Nobody's Fault But Mine, In My Time of Dying, Since I've Been Loving You, No Quarter, Ten Years Gone, The Battle of Evermore, Going to California, Black Country Woman, Bron-Y-Aur Stomp, White Summer/Black Mountain Side, Kashmir, Over the Top*, Achilles Last Stand, Stairway to Heaven, Rock and Roll

*- Second Night in the Garden

Bonzo hammers at his drums with incredible intensity during the opening numbers. The crowd erupts as Sick Again comes to a close. Page shreds wildly through the guitar solo during Nobody's Fault But Mine. Jones delivers a dramatic piano solo during No Quarter, which develops into an upbeat honky tonk jam as Page and Bonzo join in. The guitar solo section is an epic journey with Bonzo leading the way. The band receives a rapturous ovation as the piece comes to a close. Plant urges Jones to "leave the Heineken alone" while waiting for him to retrieve the triple neck before an excellent Ten Years Gone. He hints at Gallows Pole before introducing Going to California as "a pictorial sketch of a conflict between a man and himself." There is a cut in the tape near the end of White Summer/Black Mountain Side. Plant delivers a strong performance during Kashmir. Bonzo thrashes wildly at anything within reach during a frantic Achilles Last Stand. Plant barks aggressively during the show-closing Rock and Roll.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

The Song Remains the Same, Sick Again, Nobody's Fault But Mine, In My Time of Dying, Since I've Been Loving You, No Quarter, Ten Years Gone, The Battle of Evermore, Going to California, Black Country Woman, Bron-Y-Aur Stomp, White Summer/Black Mountain Side, Kashmir, Over the Top, Achilles Last Stand, Stairway to Heaven, Rock and Roll

The first show of the band's six night residency at Madison Square Garden begins with a frantic The Song Remains the Same. The taper seems to be having a bit of trouble with his equipment, losing the right channel momentarily. Plant repeatedly exclaims "oh Jimmy!" as Page launches into a blistering sticky-fingered guitar solo. As the song ends, Plant tells the crowd "it's really great to be back, cause we never really knew whether we would ever make it back, y'know?... and I guess now that we have, we better do it good, right?" He insists that the crowd cool it with the firecrackers before dedicating In My Time of Dying to Queen Elizabeth II, in honor of her Silver Jubilee. The band hammers through a devastatingly heavy performance as Plant barks aggressively.

Since I've Been Loving You is an epic drama. Page is absolutely on fire, his fingers tear across the fretboard as he leads the crowd on an emotional journey. Plant is in top form, belting out each line with power and conviction. A fantastic performance, one of the best in recent memory. Someone near the taper can be heard saying "look here, on the roof!... they got a fuckin' Laserium!" as Jones begins his piano solo during No Quarter. There is a slight cut in the tape shortly thereafter. Page and Bonzo join in for another frenzied rendition of Nut Rocker. Page shreds wildly through an excellent guitar solo as Bonzo relentlessly hammers at his drums. Plant introduces Ten Years Gone as "a song about loves lost, but never gone." The crowd cheers loudly as the band begins a beautiful Going to California. The delicate atmosphere is interrupted by a barrage of firecracker blasts following the first verse.

Page and Plant get into a tongue-in-cheek rendition of Rawhide before Black Country Woman. Unfortunately, the latter is cut after just over a minute. The crowd erupts as Kashmir bursts out of White Summer/Black Mountain Side. The band completely loses track of one another during the latter half of the song. There are a couple briefly disturbing speed fluctuations near the beginning of an explosive Achilles Last Stand. Plant dedicates Stairway to Heaven to "the fact that good vibes are alive and well in New York." Page shreds erratically through the guitar solo. Plant exclaims "now let's go back to 1969!" before Whole Lotta Love. The band closes the show with a riotous Rock and Roll, getting caught up in the frenzy and losing track of one another during the guitar solo.

The tape is fairly clear, if a bit noisy in the high end. The encore is quite muffled and distant.

The ill-fated return to Tampa Stadium begins with someone near the taper shouting "bring on the blimp!" into a megaphone before the band takes the stage. The show gets off to a strong start with a frantic The Song Remains the Same. Page's fingers fly across the fretboard as Bonzo thrashes wildly at anything within reach. Plant barks aggressively as the band hammers through Sick Again. Page blazes through the guitar solos. As the song ends, Plant tells the crowd "it's more than a pleasure to be back in the Tampa region again."

Bonzo misses a cue as Plant begins the harmonica solo during Nobody's Fault But Mine, but quickly gets back on track. The recording becomes quite muffled soon after as the taper attempts to protect his equipment from the inclement weather. Someone can be heard saying "this is the worst" as the crowd scrambles for cover from the rain while Page shreds through the guitar solo onstage. As the song ends, Plant announces "we want you to bear with us because there seems to be some water falling on the electrical equipment... so we're gonna give it a fifteen minute break, are you cool?" Following a cut in the tape, someone onstage gives the crowd instructions on how to obtain an IOU for admittance to a makeup show the following night. Unfortunately, the subsequent riot would cause the local police to prevent the show from being rescheduled.

The tape is very clear and well-balanced and includes three brief news clips reporting on the incident.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

The Song Remains the Same, Sick Again, Nobody's Fault But Mine, In My Time of Dying, Since I've Been Loving You, No Quarter, Ten Years Gone, The Battle of Evermore, Going to California, Black Country Woman, Bron-Y-Aur Stomp, White Summer/Black Mountain Side, Kashmir, Over the Top, Achilles Last Stand, Stairway to Heaven, Rock and Roll

The fourth and final night at the Capital Centre begins with a brief soundcheck before the band launches into The Song Remains the Same. The tape is terribly noisy and distorted. Fortunately, the sound clears up a bit as an incredibly heavy Sick Again begins. As the song ends, Plant reminds the crowd that this is the band's final show in the area, saying "you know what last nights in a town are... at least, I do." Page shreds wildly through the guitar solo during Nobody's Fault But Mine. Bonzo has some trouble keeping the beat during In My Time of Dying. Plant is in top form, belting out each line with power and intensity. Since I've Been Loving You is absolutely fantastic. Page erupts is a furious cascade of notes during the blistering guitar solo.

There is a brief cut in the tape during the second verse of No Quarter. Jones's dramatic piano solo develops into a frantic hard rock improvisation as Page and Bonzo join in. Page leads the band on an epic journey as he tears through an outstanding guitar solo. An amazing performance, one of the best in recent memory. Plant tells the crowd "at this point, John leaves the keyboards... and he makes his way quite casually while drinking wine behind the amplifiers" before Ten Years Gone, joking "that's the trouble with doin' three hours or more onstage, y'know, some of them can't keep the pace." Page blazes through the guitar solos with incredible fluency and precision. One of the best performances thus far.

Bonzo again assists Jones with the backing vocals during The Battle of Evermore. Plant sings a couple lines of Surrender before dedicating Black Country Woman to "Janeane's mom," adding "wherever you are mom, you got a wonderful daughter." Kashmir is incredibly powerful. Plant's aggressive howls echo through the arena and into infinity. Bonzo is introduced as "the man who once drank with Scott McKenzie" before Over the Top. Page has perfected his rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner within the experimental guitar solo. The band hammers frantically through a thunderous Achilles Last Stand. The brutal sonic assault is almost too much for the taper's equipment to handle. An unbelievably explosive performance, the best thus far.

Plant introduces Stairway to Heaven as "one that tracks down the history of modern day laughter." Page delivers an absolutely amazing guitar solo, one of the best yet. A truly outstanding performance. The crowd erupts as Whole Lotta Love begins. The band closes the show* with a riotous Rock and Roll. Plant unleashes a series of spine-chilling screeches during the explosive finale. A phenomenal performance. Must hear.

The tape is clear and well-balanced, if a bit noisy and overloaded at times. The quality improves gradually as the show progresses.

*- seconds before the end of the tape, the crowd begins cheering loudly as if the band was returning to the stage, possibly to play Trampled Underfoot.

Monday, October 20, 2008

The Song Remains the Same, Sick Again, Nobody's Fault But Mine, In My Time of Dying, Since I've Been Loving You, No Quarter, Ten Years Gone, The Battle of Evermore, Going to California, Black Country Woman, Bron-Y-Aur Stomp, White Summer/Black Mountain Side, Kashmir, Over the Top, Achilles Last Stand, Stairway to Heaven, Rock and Roll

The show gets off to a shaky start with a somewhat sluggish The Song Remains the Same. Page is all over the place during the guitar solos. The band crawls through Sick Again at a snail's pace. As the song ends, Plant mentions that it's Memorial Day weekend, saying "we'll try and make your holiday just a little bit higher." In My Time of Dying is introduced as "a song that took its origins from the southern states of the United States of America, long before we were twinkles in our great, great, great grandfathers'... possibilities." Bonzo sounds tired as Page shreds through a laid-back Since I've Been Loving You. Plant complains about the heat onstage before introducing "the ivory keys of John Paul Jones" prior to No Quarter. Jones delivers a dynamic piano solo, which develops into an upbeat boogie/hard rock jam as Page and Bonzo join in. Page delivers an excellent guitar solo, although the band can be a bit disjointed at times.

Plant describes Jones's triple neck as "what looks like some remnant from Greek mythology" before Ten Years Gone. He sings "do you ever remember me, Benji?" following Page's first guitar solo, referring to the band's tour manager Benji LeFevre. Bonzo assists Jones in his backing vocal duties during The Battle of Evermore, which Plant describes as "an awake version of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young" afterward. Page fumbles through a sticky-fingered White Summer/Black Mountain Side. Bonzo seems to be playing in slow motion as the band plods through a lackluster Kashmir. Ironically, Plant introduces him as "one of the more prolific timekeepers of the English rock movement" before Over the Top. The drum solo is unbearably long and boring. Plant tells the crowd "this song's given us a little bit of strength sometimes when we felt down, cause we knew it was a nice one" before Stairway to Heaven. The guitar solo section devolves into a disjointed mess by the end. The band closes the show with a sloppy Rock and Roll.

The tape is a slightly bass heavy soundboard recording, unfortunately wasted on one of the worst performances of the tour.

Friday, October 17, 2008

The Song Remains the Same, Sick Again, Nobody's Fault But Mine, In My Time of Dying, Since I've Been Loving You, No Quarter, Ten Years Gone, The Battle of Evermore, Going to California, Dancing Days, Black Country Woman, Bron-Y-Aur Stomp, White Summer/Black Mountain Side, Kashmir, Over the Top, Achilles Last Stand, Stairway to Heaven, Rock and Roll

The band is extremely loose as the show gets underway. Page's fingers are a bit sticky during The Song Remains the Same. The band rolls through Sick Again like thick molasses, getting heavier with each refrain. As the song ends, Plant apologizes for the delay, saying "we are extremely sorry, we don't treat it casually or lightly." He tells the crowd "we had such a good time last night, we think we're gonna try and do better tonight" before Nobody's Fault But Mine. In My Time of Dying features the usual You Shook Me tease near the end. Since I've Been Loving You is introduced as "something that comes out of our back yard."

Jones's piano solo during No Quarter is introduced by a series of echo-heavy theramin bursts over Bonzo's rolling tympani. Following a dramatic grand piano interlude, Page and Bonzo join in for an excellent hard rock jam. The three musicians play as one, completely in synch with one another as they create a miniature rock opera. Bonzo takes control and drives the band through the guitar solo section as Page wanders through a somewhat lackluster effort. Plant barks aggressively as Page solos wildly during the song's outro. Before Ten Years Gone, Plant tells the crowd "if you've ever had an affair with a member of the opposite sex, or even a member of the same sex... if this affair seemed very casual to you at one time and then you've walked away, and as the years go by, you realize that it was a lot more than it seemed... then you felt the feeling of lost love, and this is a song about that."

Bonzo is introduced as "Lou Reed's dad" before The Battle of Evermore, which is dedicated to "the good old welsh borders." Plant introduces a beautiful Going to California as "one about a dream that may never come true." His mournful howls echo through the auditorium. Black Country Woman is preceded by an abbreviated acoustic rendition of Dancing Days, its first appearance since 7/13/1973. Plant delivers a strong performance as Bonzo pummels his drums in a series of thunderous fills during Kashmir. The crowd goes wild as a marathon thirty-five minute Over the Top comes to a close, the longest drum solo ever recorded. The band is a bit disjointed during a sloppy Achilles Last Stand. Bonzo comes in early, creating a strange new arrangement of the song's introduction. Plant dedicates Stairway to Heaven to "all that is positive and good and we can hope for." Bonzo sounds almost bored as Page delivers an uninspired guitar solo. The band closes the show with a tired run-through of Rock and Roll. The recording ends with the tapers of the audience source interviewing passers-by on their way out of the arena.

The tape is an excellent soundboard recording, augmented by a fairly clear audience recording.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

The Song Remains the Same, Sick Again, Nobody's Fault But Mine, In My Time of Dying, Since I've Been Loving You, No Quarter, Ten Years Gone, The Battle of Evermore, Going to California, Black Country Woman, Bron-Y-Aur Stomp, White Summer/Black Mountain Side, Kashmir, Over the Top, Achilles Last Stand, Stairway to Heaven, Rock and Roll

The first show of the band's four night stand at the Capital Centre begins with a brief soundcheck before The Song Remains the Same comes thundering out of the gate. The intense sonic assault is almost too much for the taper's equipment to handle. The crowd cheers loudly as Plant greets them following Sick Again. Unfortunately, his words are indiscernible due to the taper's distance from the stage. The band hammers through an aggressive In My Time of Dying. Page makes his guitar squeal with excitement as he begins the solo during Since I've Been Loving You. Shouts of "louder!" and "turn it up!" can be heard coming from the crowd as the song comes to a close.

There is a cut in the tape during Page's guitar solo in No Quarter. The crowd erupts as White Summer/Black Mountain Side gives way to a powerful Kashmir. Bonzo pummels his drums with incredible intensity during an explosive Achilles Last Stand. The beginning of Stairway to Heaven is met with a thunderous cheer from the crowd. The band closes the show with a riotous Rock and Roll, which is again preceded by a short Whole Lotta Love intro.

The tape is extremely muffled and distant, making it very difficult to discern any details of the performance.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

The Song Remains the Same, Sick Again, Nobody's Fault But Mine, In My Time of Dying, Since I've Been Loving You, No Quarter, Ten Years Gone, Going to California, Black Country Woman, Bron-Y-Aur Stomp, White Summer/Black Mountain Side, Kashmir, Over the Top, Achilles Last Stand, Stairway to Heaven, Rock and Roll, It'll Be Me

Bonzo comes out swinging as the show gets underway, pummeling his drums in a frantic stampede during The Song Remains the Same. The frenzy continues as the band hammers through a devastatingly heavy Sick Again. Page shreds wildly as Bonzo and Jones decimate the crowd with their bone-crushing rhythm. The combined sonic assault threatens to destroy the taper's equipment. As the song ends, Plant apologizes for the delay amidst shouts of "sit down!" from the crowd. Page blazes through a nasty guitar solo during Nobody's Fault But Mine. In My Time of Dying is an aggressive cacophony. Page begins the intro only to stop moments later and start over, with Plant joking "there's a few clowns onstage too." Bonzo hints at The Crunge briefly toward the end of the song, throwing Page's timing off in the process.

Page is on fire during an incredibly powerful Since I've Been Loving You. His fingers tear across the fretboard in a furious cascade of notes during the blistering guitar solo. Jones's piano solo during No Quarter features another frenzied rendition of Nut Rocker. Bonzo drives the band forward, experimenting with a variety of rhythmic textures as Page delivers a long, wandering guitar solo. Ten Years Gone is introduced as a song "about the love that you always cherish in your heart and never forget." Unfortunately, the song is cut during the first guitar solo. The beginning of Going to California is met with a loud cheer from the crowd. The arena quakes under the power of Bonzo's thunderous pounding during Kashmir.

Plant introduces Bonzo as "the man who only last night was standing in the wardrobe when a fist went straight through the door and hit him on the nose" before an epic Over the Top. Page's inclusion of Dixie and The Star-Spangled Banner during his experimental guitar solo draws cheers and applause from the crowd. Bonzo thrashes wildly at anything within reach during an aggressive Achilles Last Stand. Plant dedicates Stairway to Heaven to "all the people who've made our stay really pleasant." The encore begins with the first appearance of Whole Lotta Love since 5/25/1975, although only as a minute-long prelude to Rock and Roll. The latter features an odd stuttering intro from Bonzo. The biggest surprise of the night comes as Plant introduces Mick Ralphs of Bad Company on second guitar before an excellent impromptu rendition of Jerry Lee Lewis's It'll Be Me. As the band leaves the stage, Plant announces "Led Zeppelin are now gonna get it off, goodnight."

The tape is a combination of three sources, ranging in quality from clear to distant and noisy.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

The Song Remains the Same, Sick Again, Nobody's Fault But Mine, In My Time of Dying, Since I've Been Loving You, No Quarter, Ten Years Gone, The Battle of Evermore, Going to California, Black Country Woman, Bron-Y-Aur Stomp, White Summer/Black Mountain Side, Kashmir, Over the Top, Achilles Last Stand, Stairway to Heaven, Rock and Roll, Trampled Underfoot

The tape begins with a brief soundcheck before the band launches into The Song Remains the Same. Things get off to a somewhat shaky start as Page's fingers become entangled in the strings during the guitar solos. Bonzo, however, is ready and raring to go, firing off a series of machine gun snare blasts and shouting "pick it up!" as they reach the opening chords of Sick Again. The band gets a bit lost following the third verse. As the song ends, Plant apologizes for the delay, saying "not much time to give you a brief history of the last two years, it's been mostly spent on our backs, so we're just gonna get on and play."

Page very briefly quotes the old Boogie Chillen' riff during the guitar solo in Nobody's Fault But Mine. Bonzo can be heard saying "oh, we're falling apart tonight, ain't we?... did you notice the bolt was comin' out the hi-hat as well there?" following a sluggish In My Time of Dying. Since I've Been Loving You is absolutely fantastic, resembling the versions from the 1973 North American tour. One of the best in recent memory. As the song ends, Bonzo can be heard repeatedly shouting "over the hills!" Plant tells the crowd "this next piece features the uncontrollable bursting talents of John Paul Jones" before No Quarter, adding "the mystery man comes alive!" Jones's piano solo develops into an excellent extended rock 'n roll shuffle cum hard rock jam as Page and Bonzo join in. Bonzo experiments with a vast array of rhythms during the lengthy guitar solo. Page shreds wildly during the outro. As the song ends, Bonzo can be heard shouting "Jimmy!... it's only rock and roll."

Plant introduces Bonzo as "the sort of Joan Baez of Led Zeppelin" before The Battle of Evermore. Going to California is beautiful. Page and Plant hint at Custard Pie while waiting for Jones to retrieve his standup bass prior to Black Country Woman. There is a brief cut in the tape during the initial verses of Bron-Y-Aur Stomp. Bonzo is on fire during a frantic Achilles Last Stand, thrashing wildly at anything within reach. Plant introduces Stairway to Heaven as "a song of continued positivity," adding "we hope." As the band returns to the stage, he tells the crowd "it's been a great night... it's a new hall, we haven't played here before, right?... doesn't seem to matter when there's a lotta people smilin'." Page misses the first few notes of Rock and Roll, apparently due to a fall he took as the song began. The band plods through the show-closing Trampled Underfoot.

Monday, October 13, 2008

The Song Remains the Same, Sick Again, Nobody's Fault But Mine, In My Time of Dying, Since I've Been Loving You, No Quarter, Ten Years Gone, The Battle of Evermore, Going to California, Black Country Woman, Bron-Y-Aur Stomp, White Summer/Black Mountain Side, Kashmir, Over the Top, Achilles Last Stand, Stairway to Heaven, Rock and Roll

Each metallic note of Jones's bass line punches through the cacophonous roar as Page's fingers race across the fretboard during The Song Remains the Same. Plant greets the crowd, saying "from one Birmingham to another" following an aggressive Sick Again. Page blazes through the guitar solo in Nobody's Fault But Mine. As the song ends, Plant tells the crowd "this is the beginning of what is now being affectionately called the middle leg of our tour," joking "can you imagine the middle leg of a Zeppelin tour?" He exclaims "come on, burn in hell!" at the beginning of the a cappella "oh my Jesus" section during a thunderous In My Time of Dying. There is a slight cut in the tape during the You Shook Me tease. Plant comments "I think this is gonna be a good night tonight" as the song comes to a close.

Since I've Been Loving You is beautifully mournful. Jones's somber piano work sets the mood as Page shreds through an emotionally charged guitar solo, penetrating deeper into the crowd's collective soul with each refrain. Page seems to be having a bit of trouble with his wah-wah pedal as No Quarter begins. Following a brief cut near the beginning, Jones's piano solo develops into a fantastic hard rock jam. The band experiments with a variety of different styles and rhythms during Page's long, wandering guitar solo. As the piece comes to a close, one of the tapers can be heard saying "you got three more minutes, y'know?" to which his partner replies "I know it, I'm gonna change it as soon as this song's over." Page shreds wildly as Bonzo pummels the crowd in violent bursts during the song's outro.

Jones has recently acquired a triple neck acoustic guitar, which Plant refers to as his "secret weapon." Ten Years Gone is a bit sloppy at times. Page's fingers get stuck in the strings during the guitar solos. There is a brief cut near the beginning of Page's guitar breakdown during Bron-Y-Aur Stomp. Bonzo is introduced as "the greatest rock drummer in the band" before Over the Top. Page hints at Dixie, along with his usual homage to The Star-Spangled Banner during the experimental guitar solo prior to Achilles Last Stand. Someone near the taper can be heard shouting "I got the six-pack of Schlitz!" during the bow segment, which is cut slightly near the end. Bonzo thrashes at his drums with incredible intensity during Achilles Last Stand. Unfortunately, there is a cut in the tape near the end of the song. Page blazes through a fantastic guitar solo during Stairway to Heaven. As the band returns to the stage, Plant asks the crowd "was it alright?" just before Rock and Roll crashes into motion. An excellent start to the second leg of the tour.

The tape is fairly clear and well-balanced, if a bit distant and noisy in the high end.

Friday, October 10, 2008

The Song Remains the Same, Sick Again, Nobody's Fault But Mine, In My Time of Dying, Since I've Been Loving You, No Quarter, Ten Years Gone, The Battle of Evermore, Going to California, Black Country Woman, Bron-Y-Aur Stomp, White Summer/Black Mountain Side, Kashmir, Over the Top, Achilles Last Stand, Stairway to Heaven, Rock and Roll, Trampled Underfoot

Page's fingers race across the fretboard during a frantic The Song Remains the Same. Plant barks aggressively through Sick Again. Page blazes through the second guitar solo. As the song ends, Plant tells the crowd "it's very hard to play with everybody swishin' around, so I need you to stand still and dig it, and we will play and play... is that a deal?" Page shreds through the guitar solo during Nobody's Fault But Mine. As the song ends, Plant once again commands the rowdy crowd to "stand still!" In My Time of Dying features the usual You Shook Me tease near the end of the song. Page is on fire during a mournful Since I've Been Loving You, introduced as "an English blues."

Jones's piano solo during No Quarter develops into an upbeat blues-rock jam as Page and Bonzo join in. The band stumbles a few times during Page's outstanding guitar solo. Ten Years Gone is introduced as "a song about the first love you ever had, the one you never forget." Going to California features some beautiful mandolin work from Jones. Unfortunately, the delicate atmosphere is ruined by a series of firecracker blasts. Plant delivers a powerful performance during Kashmir. His banshee howls echo over the crowd as the band hammers through the thunderous march. Bonzo is introduced as "the greatest rock and roll drummer in the world" before Over the Top. Unfortunately, the drum solo is incomplete. The beginning of Stairway to Heaven is met with a loud cheer from the crowd, followed by a barrage of firecracker blasts. Page delivers an excellent guitar solo. Plant announces "it's been an outright gas!" as the band returns to the stage to close the show with a wildly cacophonous Trampled Underfoot.

Thursday, October 9, 2008

The Song Remains the Same, Sick Again, Nobody's Fault But Mine, In My Time of Dying, Since I've Been Loving You, No Quarter, Ten Years Gone, The Battle of Evermore, Going to California, Black Country Woman, Bron-Y-Aur Stomp, White Summer/Black Mountain Side, Kashmir, Over the Top, Achilles Last Stand, Stairway to Heaven, Rock and Roll, Trampled Underfoot

The band's second night in Cleveland begins with a brief soundcheck before The Song Remains the Same comes thundering out of the gate. Sick Again is incredibly heavy. The stadium quakes under the power of Bonzo and Jones's bone-crushing rhythm as Page tears through the guitar solos. As the song ends, the taper can be heard shouting "oh fuck!" and "my god, we're in trouble!" There is a loud piercing squeal as Plant begins speaking, followed by a cut which leaves us at the beginning of Nobody's Fault But Mine. Plant exclaims "oh Jimmy!" as Page begins a blistering guitar solo.

There is a slight cut in the tape following Plant's aggressive shouts of "oh Georgina!" during an excellent In My Time of Dying. He and Bonzo get into a bit of Surrender as the song ends. Since I've Been Loving You is an epic drama. Page is absolutely on fire as he leads the band on an intense emotional journey. Bonzo pummels the crowd with a devastating stampede of drums as the frenzy reaches its peak. A truly amazing performance, one of the best thus far. Plant introduces No Quarter as "No Quaalude." Jones's piano solo features another frantic rendition of Nut Rocker, followed by an excellent blues interlude. Page delivers a dramatic guitar solo. An outstanding performance. Unfortunately, the song is cut during the final verse.

Ten Years Gone is absolutely fantastic. Plant hints at Dancing Days and Bob Dylan's Blues before Black Country Woman, which features his best Elvis impression. The crowd erupts as White Summer/Black Mountain Side gives way to a powerful Kashmir. Plant's aggressive howls echo over the crowd and into infinity. The taper exclaims "this sucks!" twelve minutes into Over the Top. Bonzo hammers at his drums with incredible intensity during Achilles Last Stand. The very beginning of Stairway to Heaven is missing from the tape. The taper can be heard saying "oh fuck" directly into the microphone during the initial verses. Page's epic guitar solo is dynamic and emotional. Bonzo thrashes wildly at anything within reach as the drama reaches its peak. An amazing performance. Unfortunately, the latter half of the song suffers from a series of minor tape issues.

As the band returns to the stage, Plant announces "there's still life in the old dog yet." The taper can once again be heard exclaiming "oh fuck!" as a chest-thumping Rock and Roll comes to a close. The band closes the show with a plodding Trampled Underfoot. A somewhat sluggish finale to an outstanding performance. Must hear.

The tape is clear and well-balanced, if a bit distant and noisy in the high end at times. Unfortunately, the majority of Plant's between song banter is missing from the tape.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

The Song Remains the Same, Sick Again, Nobody's Fault But Mine, In My Time of Dying, Since I've Been Loving You, No Quarter, Ten Years Gone, The Battle of Evermore, Going to California, Black Country Woman, Bron-Y-Aur Stomp, White Summer/Black Mountain Side, Kashmir, Over the Top, Achilles Last Stand, Stairway to Heaven, Rock and Roll, Trampled Underfoot

The famed Destroyer tape begins during the first verse of The Song Remains the Same. Plant's voice starts off a bit rough and Page's fingers are constantly getting stuck in the strings. Things pick up during Sick Again. Plant seduces the crowd with his aggressive snarl as Page slashes and shreds through the bone-crushing rhythm. An unbelievably heavy performance, one of the best thus far. As the song ends, Plant tells the crowd "it's very nice to be back... in more ways than one." The band hammers through a devastating Nobody's Fault But Mine. Plant exclaims "go Jimmy, go!" as Page begins the guitar solo.

Since I've Been Loving You is excellent. As the song ends, Plant announces "Jimmy Page on guitar there... the doctor was played by Larry Badgely (the band's doctor) and management was arranged by Peter Grant." The ominous introduction to Jones's piano solo during No Quarter is fantastic. Unfortunately, a cut in the tape soon after leaves us at the end of the upbeat interlude. Page delivers an erratically epic guitar solo, punctuated by Bonzo's violent outbursts. Ten Years Gone features some fantastic soloing from Page. Before The Battle of Evermore, Plant tells the crowd "this song reflects, I s'pose more than anythin' else, an evening in England some seven hundred years ago... just about the time that me and Bonzo got married." Going to California is beautiful. As the song ends, Plant tells the crowd "this is startin' to feel good, man."

Plant introduces Bonzo as "one of the few gentlemen in Cleveland who manages to wash my hair with 7 Up, the man who... childhood friend, sweet baby, always been the lover boy of the band" before Over the Top. The drum solo features the extensive use of a spaced-out phasing effect as Bonzo hammers at his tympani. The song's finale is punctuated by a series of lightning-fast machine gun snare blasts. Page's fingers are a bit sticky during the first guitar solo in Achilles Last Stand. Plant dedicates Stairway to Heaven to "the sort of atmosphere that I think we've actually achieved between us all." Page disappears at the end of the guitar solo, leaving the rest of the band to fill the void for the remainder of the song.

As the band exits the stage, a cut in the tape leaves us near the end of the first verse of Rock and Roll. Page's guitar cuts out briefly at the beginning of the solo. Plant announces "well, now it's been a long time... I guess we should do a bit of stompin'" before the band closes the show with a heavy, plodding Trampled Underfoot. Bonzo gets into a disco rhythm for a few bars following the initial verses. Page shreds wildly through the guitar solo. A strong performance for the band's first night in Cleveland. Must hear.

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

The Song Remains the Same, Sick Again, Nobody's Fault But Mine, In My Time of Dying, Since I've Been Loving You, No Quarter, Ten Years Gone, The Battle of Evermore, Going to California, Black Country Woman, Bron-Y-Aur Stomp, White Summer/Black Mountain Side, Kashmir, Over the Top, Achilles Last Stand, Stairway to Heaven, Rock and Roll

Page's fingers get stuck in the strings during the guitar solos in The Song Remains the Same. Plant repeatedly exclaims "well!" as Sick Again comes to a close, receiving a more enthusiastic response with each iteration. Page blazes through the guitar solo in Nobody's Fault But Mine. As the song ends, Plant asks the rowdy crowd "can you not push so much at the front, cause there's a lot of people gettin' a little bit hurt." The band gets a bit lost toward the end of In My Time of Dying.

There is a brief cut in the tape at the beginning of Jones's piano solo during No Quarter. Page and Bonzo join in for a frantic rendition of Nut Rocker. Jones gets a bit ahead of himself as the piece comes to a close and begins to play the main theme before Page and Bonzo pull him back. Page shreds erratically through a somewhat disjointed guitar solo. Someone in the crowd can be heard shouting "The Ocean!" as Plant is introducing Ten Years Gone, to which he mistakenly responds "we always do the old shit, what are you talkin' about?" adding "that's why we're in rock and roll, man!" Page struggles through an out of tune guitar solo. Plant pushes his voice to the limit during The Battle of Evermore. Black Country Woman is introduced as "a song inspired by a bad night with a woman... or a good one, on the other hand." There is a slight cut in the tape just before the final verse of Bron-Y-Aur Stomp.

Kashmir is incredibly powerful, the intense sonic assault threatens to destroy the taper's equipment. There is a cut in the tape in the middle of Achilles Last Stand. As the song ends, Plant tells the crowd "it's a long story, but if you could listen to the lyrics sometime, you might understand the relevance of it." Stairway to Heaven is dedicated to "peace amidst the brotherhood of Louisville." Page delivers an epic guitar solo. The crowd goes absolutely mad as Rock and Roll crashes into motion.

Monday, October 6, 2008

The Song Remains the Same, Sick Again, Nobody's Fault But Mine, In My Time of Dying, Since I've Been Loving You, No Quarter, Ten Years Gone, The Battle of Evermore, Going to California, Black Country Woman, Bron-Y-Aur Stomp, White Summer/Black Mountain Side, Kashmir, Over the Top, Achilles Last Stand, Stairway to Heaven, Rock and Roll, Trampled Underfoot

The tape begins with a brief soundcheck before The Song Remains the Same explodes out of the gate. Bonzo is absolutely on fire, pummeling the crowd with his relentless sonic assault. Page blazes through an excellent guitar solo during Nobody's Fault But Mine. In My Time of Dying is cut just before the end of the song. Since I've Been Loving You is dramatic and powerful. Plant complains that it's raining on the stage before introducing No Quarter as featuring "the umbrella of John Paul Jones." The instrumental section is absolutely fantastic. Jones's piano solo is followed by an excellent boogie workout. Page delivers a phenomenal guitar solo. Unfortunately, there is a slight cut in the tape as the piece comes to a close. An outstanding performance.

Plant tells the crowd "it's best to always be in love with everybody, but this is about the first time you ever knew it would happen to you" before Ten Years Gone. Page fumbles through an out of tune guitar solo. The Battle of Evermore is introduced as "probably what happened about seven hundred years ago this evening on the Welsh borders." As Going to California comes to a close, someone can be heard asking the taper "hey man, you wanna get you a hit off of this, man?" to which he responds "oh, no thanks."

Plant introduces Bonzo as "one of the greatest drummers that England's ever has and ever will have" before Over the Top. Someone near the taper can be heard telling his inebriated friend that he'll regret it for the rest of his life if he doesn't stand up and watch the drum solo. Page again plays a bit of The Star-Spangled Banner à la Hendrix at Woodstock during the experimental guitar solo prior to Achilles Last Stand. Plant dedicates Stairway to Heaven to "warm atmospheres, which everybody needs." As the band returns to the stage to close the show with Trampled Underfoot, Plant announces "in two years of absence from concerts, you begin to forget what it's all about, but I think we remembered."